{"id":298619,"date":"2023-12-07T13:24:13","date_gmt":"2023-12-07T13:24:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/?p=298619"},"modified":"2023-12-07T13:24:13","modified_gmt":"2023-12-07T13:24:13","slug":"grand-slam-super-tour-could-destroy-tennis-as-atp-boss-warns-of-civil-war","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/tennis\/grand-slam-super-tour-could-destroy-tennis-as-atp-boss-warns-of-civil-war\/","title":{"rendered":"Grand Slam super tour could ‘destroy’ tennis as ATP boss warns of ‘civil war’"},"content":{"rendered":"

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ATP chairman Andrea Gaudenzi has broken his silence on reports of a breakaway \u2018super tour\u2019 led by the four Grand Slams. The Italian claimed that any sort of division could \u201cdestroy\u201d the sport\u2019s values it as he explained why they didn\u2019t need a civil war. Instead, Gaudenzi backed a scenario that saw all of tennis\u2019 governing bodies working together.<\/p>\n

The tennis world was recently rocked by reports that the Grand Slams could form a 14-event premium tour, similar to Formula One. According to The Athletic, the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open were in talks to band together and acquire the existing nine Masters 1000 events, also adding a 10th to be staged in Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n

It would leave the ATP and WTA to control the lower-level 500 and 250-point events. And the chairman of the men\u2019s tennis tour has now responded to the reports. While Gauzendi thought it would be a \u201cmistake\u201d to create a breakaway tour, he told The National there was no real danger that the Masters events could leave the ATP to link up with the Majors.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think that generally there is a lot of noise in that regard,\u201d Gaudenzi said, before referencing the ATP\u2019s strategic OneVision plan to unify the sport. He continued: \u201cI think what I’ve been extremely vocal about the last four years with OneVision is that we need to figure out a way to work together, right?<\/p>\n

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\u201cBecause ultimately, whatever was written in that article, it’s definitely the concept of focusing on a premium product, which will mean the Slams and the Masters and the premium product, all together combined, is a very powerful proposition for the consumers. That I agree with 100 per cent. That’s what we are trying to do with OneVision. Obviously, I don’t know, different people probably come up with different ideas on how to get there.\u201d<\/p>\n

As for the specific suggestions that the Grand Slams and Masters could break away from the rest of the sport, the ATP boss believes that scenario \u201cwill only destroy value, not create value.\u201d Gaudenzi also explained that it would be difficult to come back if the relationships between the different governing bodies were fractured.<\/p>\n